Chapter 11 Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser.

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Organizing Information Technology Resources

Chapter 11

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Learning Objectives• Describe the roles, responsibilities, and major

functions of the IT dept or organization.• Discuss the role and responsibility of the CIO,

CMIO, CSO, CTO, and other key IT staff.• Describe the different ways IT services might

be organized and governed.• Identify key attributes of highly effective IT

organizations.• Develop a plan for evaluating the

effectiveness of the IT function within an organization.

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

OutlineInformation Technology Functions

IT department responsibilities Core functions IT Senior Leadership Roles Other IT Staff Roles Recruitment and Retention of IT Staff

Organizing IT Staff and Services Centralization vs Decentralization Core IT competencies

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Outline continuedIn-House Vs Outsourced IT ServicesEvaluating the Effectiveness of the IT Function

Governance Budget development and resource

allocation System acquisition and implementation IT Service levels

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

IT ResponsibilitiesIT plan and strategy are congruent with

organization’s goalsWork with organization to

acquire/develop and implement new applications

Provide day-to-day support

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

IT Responsibilities continued

Manage IT infrastructure—perform backups, install networks, print weekly paychecks, secure systems from virus attacks

Examine the role and relevance of emerging information technologies

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Core Functions• Operations and Technical Support– Manage infrastructure—servers, networks,

operating systems, database management systems and workstations.

• Applications management—manages the process of acquiring, developing and implementing new applications

• Specialized groups—research and development

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Core Functions continued

IT Administration- Oversee development of IT strategic plan Develop and monitor the IT budget Provide human resources support for the IT staff Provide support for the management of projects Manage space occupied by IT staff

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

IT LeadershipChief Information OfficerChief Technology Officer

Technical architecture Track emerging technologies Assess value of new technologies to organization

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Characteristics of Effective CIOs

IT Leaders continued• Chief Medical

Informatics Officer–Usually physician– Lead clinical

information system initiatives

– Establish clinical IT priorities

• Chief Security Officer–Develop and institute

security planHealth Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health

Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Other IT Staff Roles•Systems Analyst–Work closely with end-users to assess needs,

evaluate workflow, communicate needs to programmers.

•Programmer–Write, test, and maintain programs; solve

computer problems•Database administrator– Build and maintain databases

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Other IT Staff RolesNetwork administrator

Design, test, and evaluate networks (LANs,WANs, Internet, intranets, etc.) Make hardware and software recommendations

Telecommunication specialist Manage organization’s telephone systems, call

systems, communications network in event of disaster.

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Other IT Staff RolesWebmasters—responsible for all

technical aspects of Web site, including performance issues, speed, and content of site.

Web developers-responsible for the day to day site design and creation.

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Staff AttributesExecute well – deliver on time, on

budget, good impressionGood consultants-advise on best

approachProvide world-class supportKeep expertise current

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Recruitment and Retention of IT Staff

Determining environment in which you wish your staff to work Salary and benefits The physical quality of work setting The caliber of IT manager The amount of interesting work The importance of the mission of the

organization Opportunities for career growth

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Organizing IT StaffJob function or service area (e.g.,

communications unit, research and development unit) Specialized skill that can be applied to a

wide range of projectsProduct lines – set up as teams to

develop, implement, maintain and support a particular application of suite of applications

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Other approaches to organizing IT staff

Critical organizational processes—might have team that manage and provide IT services to support patient revenue cycle or patient access or medical services. Staff learn all IS associated with cross-organizational process.

Centralized versus decentralized?

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

Example of IT Organization Chart

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

IT Department Organized by Function and Geography

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

IT Department Organized by Function and Process

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

DiscussionIT services should be evaluated for their effectiveness and efficiency just like any other facility resource or service. Assume you were to devise a plan for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of IT services within your healthcare organization. What would you do?

Health Care Information Systems: A Practical Approach for Health Care Management 2nd Edition Wager ~ Lee ~ Glaser

SummaryCritical that health care organizations

have access to appropriate IT staff and resources to support HCIS and system users

IT Leadership team may include CIO, CTO, CMIO, CSO. Need to invest in IT people

Various factors influence how IT function may be organized & structured

Important to continually assess IT services